Freshman’s goal boosts Shorecrest over Jackson 1-0

Published 11:17 pm Thursday, April 17, 2008

SHORELINE — When opportunity presented itself, Shorecrest forward Glenn Paden jumped all over it.

In the first half Thursday night, Shorecrest dominated possession and outshot Jackson 9-2, but couldn’t find the net. At the half, Shorecrest coach Drew Thompson talked about capitalizing on a mistake. Seconds into the second half, Paden did so.

Defender Nick Terrel lobbed a long pass from the 40-yard line that Jackson goalkeeper Kevin Springer tried to corral 15 yards out from the goal while on his knees. But on a rainy night, the ball slipped through his gloves and Paden jumped on it. He took a few dribbles and fired a shot into the empty net for his sixth goal of the season and a 1-0 Shorecrest victory.

“Glenn was there, he was anticipating a mistake,” Shorecrest coach Drew Thompson said.

Paden, a freshman, played the entire 80 minutes for the Scots, who outshot Jackson 22-6. He took some pounding from the Timberwolves’ defense, but kept attacking, Thompson said.

“For a freshman, he’s playing beyond his years … That’s tough duty out there,” Thompson said. “They have a pretty good defense.

Jackson beat Shorecrest 1-0 March 20 in a similar game in which the Scots had more shots than Jackson. But that night the Timberwolves were the ones to capitalize.

“It was nice to get some payback,” Paden said.

Shorecrest’s starting defense of Mickey Crudo, Brian Sharkey, Stephen Strom and Terrel held off Jackson’s attack in the first half. Midfielder Michael Harris moved back to defense late in the first half, giving the Scots some more speed and skill in the back line. Harris played with four or five staples in the side of his head after being kicked in the head in a loss to Shorewood last Friday.

Goalkeeper Andrew McDonald, who didn’t play in the earlier loss to Jackson, earned his seventh shutout.

“Our defense and midfield were solid,” McDonald said. “It was a scrappy win.”

Shorecrest also got solid play from center midfielder Garrett Musar.

“He’s kind of the glue that keeps our midfield together,” Thompson said. “He’s a big part of our possession game. Garrett gets the ball and distributes the ball very well.”

Jackson lost its second game out of the three it’s played since the second half of the Western Conference South Division season got underway.

“I think we were so used to the AstroTurf (at Everett Memorial Stadium) and they were knocking the ball around pretty well. It was a pretty consistent attack,” Springer said. “They were so good in the air that every time we’d send it up they’d hit it back in. We never really had a chance or opportunity to slow it down and set our tempo game and knock around the ball, which is why we’re so successful this year. It’s really why we struggled. The one that went in, I guess it was inevitable.”

Shorecrest, a 3A team, moved three points ahead of 4A Jackson in the standings and occupies second place behind Shorewood.

Starting midfielder Jonathan Cho of Shorecrest did not play because of what might be a rib injury.

At Shoreline Stadium

Goals—Shorecrest: Paden. Assists—none. Goalkeepers—Jackson: Kevin Springer. Shorecrest: Andrew McDonald. Records—Jackson 8-3 league and overall. Shorecrest 9-3.